Fluorescent Microspheres

Fluorescent microspheres are a mainstay in diagnostics and life sciences research, finding use as fluorescent markers, assay substrates, and instrument standards. In order to meet the unique performance criteria required of microparticles in these different applications we stock an extensive inventory of fluorescent microspheres and offer custom dyeing services. See spectra for available fluorescent dyes.

Fluorescent Polystyrene

Our non-functionalized microspheres are suitable for coating via adsorption. See spectra for available fluorescent dyes. See TechNote 204, Adsorption to Microspheres, for a general adsorption protocol. Unless noted otherwise, fluorescent polymer microspheres are available as ~1% solids (w/v) aqueous suspensions in these standard volumes: 1mL, 5mL, 10mL, and 100mL.

*Please note: If you are NOT ordering via website, please specify a lot number if multiple lots are available.

Fluorescent Carboxyl Polystyrene

Biomolecules may be covalently immobilized to carboxyl-functionalized microspheres. A general coupling protocol is provided in TechNote 205, Covalent Coupling. Fluorescent carboxyl microspheres microspheres are available as ~1% solids (w/v) aqueous suspensions in these standard volumes: 1mL, 5mL, 10mL, and 100mL. See spectra for available fluorescent dyes. See also our Quantumplex™ kits for suspension array development.

*Please note: If you are NOT ordering via website, please specify a lot number if multiple lots are available.

Fluorescent Magnetic Polymer

Both Encapsulated (ME catalog codes) and Classical (MC catalog codes) superparamagnetic microspheres are synthesized using a process that results in the distribution of iron oxide crystals throughout the polymer matrix. For specific information on the use of fluorescent magnetic particles for cell labeling & tracking, see TSD 0748. The surfaces of Encapsulated magnetic microspheres are expected to be free of iron oxide, while the Classical version will have some exposed iron oxide. COMPEL microspheres (UMC catalog codes) are highly uniform and spherical. Fluorescent magnetic microspheres are available as ~1% solids (w/v) aqueous suspensions in these standard volumes: 1mL, 5mL, 10mL, and 100mL. See spectra for available fluorescent dyes.

*Please note: If you are NOT ordering via website, please specify a lot number if multiple lots are available.

Dragon Green Intensity Standard

The Dragon Green Intensity Standard is a kit consisting of five individual populations of ~8µm polystyrene-based microspheres dyed with increasing amounts of the Dragon Green fluorophore. Each population is supplied at ~1.5 x 107 beads /mL in a 1mL bottle. Dragon Green is an excellent spectral surrogate for fluorescein, and is suitable for use with fluorescein filter sets. View excitation and emission spectra.

Flash Red Intensity Standard

The Flash Red Intensity Standard is a kit consisting of five individual populations of ~8µm polystyrene-based microspheres dyed with increasing amounts of the Flash Red fluorophore. Each population is supplied at ~1.5 x 107 beads /mL in a 1mL bottle. As Flash Red is spectrally similar to Cy™5, traditional red fluorophore filter sets (e.g. Cy™5/microscope, PE-Cy™5 or APC/cytometer) may be used with this standard. View excitation and emission spectra.